#70: Urban Chestnut's "Strammer Max"

Urban Chestnut's(4465 Manchester Avenue; 314-222-0143) chef Andy Fair says that people come to the Grove Brewery and Bierhall, first and foremost, for the beer. This may be true, but his creative twist on classic German food gives the suds a run for their money.

When it comes to Urban Chestnut's sandwiches, the "Strammer Max" is (ahem) hard to beat. Essentially the German version of a croquet madame, the "Strammer Max" features thinly shaved Black Forest ham, luscious Comte cheese and an over-easy egg, served open-face style on buttery rye bread. Whether or not one becomes a better lover by eating it is up for debate (that's the legend), but it's a mighty fine way to soak up an evening of beer drinking.